Raiders' Branch says 'sky's the limit' for 2012

Raiders' Branch says 'sky's the limit' for 2012

Raiders safety Tyvon Branch, who signed a four-year contract this week, has only one goal for next season -- winning. The five-year veteran, who has a team-high 337 tackles over the past three seasons, joined reporters in a conference call Wednesday to discuss his new deal. Here is a partial transcript of his comments.

Q: For you to get a deal signed before camp, was that important?
Branch: "It was one of those things I felt was important but it wasn't a distraction ... I knew I was going to be a part of the team so I wasn't worried about it. ... I hoped that it would be able to get done. I love playing for the Raiders. ... I wanted to get a deal done so I'm excited about it.

Q: Did the knowledge that a long-term deal would help Oakland's salary cap number influence your decision?
Branch: "I knew that me signing would help the cap but I play football and let my agent do the other stuff. "

Q: Does the long-term deal give you peace of mind?
Branch: "Definitely it gives you that stability that you know you're going to be around for another couple of years."

Q: You had an oustanding season last year. How much better can you be?
Branch: "I think the sky's the limit as long as you work hard and want to become great. I think the sky's the limit. I'm just going to keep working hard and try to improve my game."

Q: Can you compare yourself to other safeties in the game?
Branch: "I don't really focus on that. I focus on what I'm doing here and what it takes for us to get better. ... I focus on my team. Different safeties have different roles in different defenses."

Q: What personal goals do you have for this season after leading the team in tackles?Branch: "I don't really have any personal goals. I just want to win man, whatever it takes to win. I'm all about winning -- whatever it takes for us to get in the big dance. "

Raiders cornerback Sean Smith has been charged with assault, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday.

The charge is for assault of his sister's boyfriend in Smith's hometown of Pasadena. Smith allegedly beat and stomped the boyfriend's head on the morning of July 4, 2017 in Old Town Pasadena, the district attorney said.

Smith faces formal felony counts of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury to the victim.

The 30-year old plans to fight the charges levied against him.

"Sean maintains his innocence at this time," Smith's attorney, Daniel Rosenberg told NBC Sports Califorinia on Thursday evening. "We are going to be entering a plea of not guilty and fighting these charges."

A warrant was filed on Aug. 16. Smith's arriagnment is scheduled for Sept. 29.

Smith was not present at Thursday's Raiders practice, the last session of training camp. He surrendered to Los Angeles County authorities, posted an $80,000 bond and has been released from custody.

If convicted as charged, Smith could face a maximum sentence of seven years in California prison.

A Raiders spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The case is still under investigation by the Pasadena Police Department.

This is another blow in a rough summer for Smith. He has struggled on the practice field during training camp and faces an off-field legal issue. Smith is guaranteed $9.5 million for the 2017 season.

Two more related questions came down the pike. The first was about Del Rio letting players be themselves. He answered a different question instead.

“Yeah, because on ‘doctor-24,’ it’s a designed way that you’re supposed to run it but I have all freedom to go any way that I choose to run it,” Lynch said. “I would say, yes.”

The final anthem-esque query was deflected in a similar fashion.

“When we run ‘74’ or something like that, where I have to scan and read on both sides, that is pretty difficult. For the most part, I’m a veteran so I can make it work.”

Two things were crystal clear after speaking with Lynch.

He didn’t miss football one bit during his year in retirement. Lynch said this spring he decided to return after the Raiders were approved to relocate away from his native Oakland. He wants to represent his hometown well and give them something to cheer before the team leaves for Las Vegas.

That’s why he’s fired up even for Saturday’s exhibition against the Rams – he’s expected to make a cameo in that game – his first in Oakland wearing silver and black.

“It’s truly a blessing and just to have the opportunity to go and do that is a good [expletive] feeling,” Lynch said. “It’s a good [expletive] feeling.”

Lynch has always been active in the community, and hopes him playing here will bring more visibility to what’s being done to help kids in Oakland.

“I plan on continuing to do what I do in the community,” Lynch said. “It’ll probably be that now that I’m here, more people that are in the community might actually come out and support what it is that we’ve got going on.”